This very spacious, yet fairly sterile bar and restaurant is located in the heart of Amsterdam. The best time to visit is when the weather is agreeable enough to sit at the terraced patios in the back, where you can enjoy an insanely picturesque view of the canals and the quaint Amsterdam architecture.

De Jaren is also a good, neutral location to talk business or conduct an interview as the background noise levels are kept to an acceptable murmur. The staff is a bit sloppy and often acts befuddled, which leads to mixed up orders or the occasional monetary mishap (sometimes they’re in your favor, so it’s not all bad).

In all, this nice-looking café is perfect for eating scones with clotted cream when you’re entertaining your future in-laws for a weekend, or just looking for a place to read your newspaper, but at night it lacks the atmosphere and character required of a good bar for wicked and fun-filled nights out.